Page 10 of Twelve Drummers Drumming

“It has taken you this long to comprehend?” asked Jemima quietly.

He appeared to be just as off-balance now as when he had been sprawled in the mud. “I do not blame you for the fall. On my honor. I will be brave enough to admit to myself that the real reason for my losing my balance and toppling over like a fool was because I was distracted.”

“Distracted?”

Captain Rotherham took another step forward, and now Jemima could almost feel his breath upon her forehead they were so close. It blossomed in the winter air. Her spine tingled.

“Distracted by you, of course.”

For a moment, they just stood there, gazes locked. If she had tried, Jemima was unsure whether she would have been able to break the connection, but of course, she had no wish to.

Captain Rotherham. Never before had a man bewitched her so utterly.

The more she looked into his eyes, the deeper she seemed to fall into them. His broad shoulders were steady now, and he gazed at her with the same intensity. As though he knew what she was thinking. As though he could see her imagination, in which he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, the fury and irritation of their interactions poured out into desire.

Jemima swallowed. She should not think such thoughts. It was wicked. It was indecent.

It was precisely what she wished he would do.

And then a gentleman in a hurry pushed between them, and the moment was broken.

“I do beg your pardon, I’m terribly late!”

Jemima knew she should say something, but for some reason, absolutely every single word in the English language had completely escaped her. She was wholly incapable of uttering a syllable.

“Miss Fitzroy,” said Captain Rotherham with a slight tremor in his voice, “if you are not engaged for anything this very moment, it would give me great pleasure if you would accompany me to the nearest park and sit with me awhile.”

“Sit with you?” repeated Jemima. “Sit with you. Sit.”

Captain Rotherham clearly was unsure whether she meant this last remark as a question. “Yes, sit with me and talk for a while.” Once again, he took a step forward and closed the distance between them. “You are by far the most interesting and beautiful woman I have ever met, and I would be unwise and senseless to let you walk away from me.”

Despite the winter chill, heat was blossoming through every inch of Jemima’s body.

“You are by far the most interesting and beautiful woman I have ever met, and I would be unwise and senseless to let you walk away from me.”

Was the man in earnest?

Surely, he was not. No man had ever thought those sentiments about her, let alone spoken them.

Jemima hesitated. He did not have the appearance of a liar. He appeared to be trustworthy, handsome, honorable…

She knew she should return home; knew her family was probably worried about her; knew it was madness to wander off with a gentleman she had just met, especially as he was a soldier—and yet…

“No,” she said abruptly, her decision made despite her desire. “No, I am sorry, Captain Rotherham, but I have no desire to sit and be stunned at how brave you were at conquering another’s country. As I said, I have other things to do.”

He may have attempted to argue with her, but Jemima could not tell. Without a backward glance, she turned and strode into the crowd.

Chapter Four

“Ijust donot think it will be possible to have my bridal trousseau ready in time.” Caroline shook her head. “Mama, whatever shall we do?”

“Ah, child, we will simply have to do our best.” Selina smiled benevolently at her daughter. “And you know your papa will do absolutely all that he can to give you what you desire. Do not be afraid to ask.”

Jemima rolled her eyes. Thankfully, as she was seated at the opposite end of the dining table, her insolence went unnoticed.

“And the church has an opening on Christmas Day!” Caroline was still speaking in raptures as they finished their pudding. “I know ’tis unusual, but I just cannot wait to be his wife. Walsingham. Mrs. Walsingham! I have already spoken with the reverend, and he has said that…”

Like any other occasion when Caroline was speaking, Jemima allowed the words to simply wash over her, paying little heed or attention to what was actually being discussed.

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